Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has won plenty of admirers after overseeing an excellent start to the season, but he could have a key decision to make regarding one of his senior squad members.
Tottenham preparing for Premier League clash against Wolves
Spurs have won five out of their first eight matches under Frank in all competitions, including excellent victories against Premier League title-chasing Man City and London rivals West Ham.
Already, the Lilywhites have showcased the needed resilience which was almost entirely absent during Ange Postecoglou’s final season in charge.
Tottenham boast one of the finest top flight defensive records thus far, apart from Arsenal and Crystal Palace — the only teams to have conceded fewer goals than Frank’s side — and displayed serious professionalism during their last Premier League outing at Brighton.
The Amex Stadium has been a sorry hunting ground for Spurs in recent years, and that threatened to be the case again when Fabian Hurzeler’s men found themselves 2-0 up.
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However, the north Londoners didn’t let that deficit ruin them — fighting back to earn a deserved 2-2 draw and having more chances to get on the scoresheet.
Now, Tottenham prepare to host a struggling Wolves side at 20:00 on Saturday evening, and all signs point towards this being a routine three points.
Lucas Bergvall has been one of Tottenham’s players of the season and will likely be given the nod against Vitor Pereira’s visitors, while Micky van de Ven is attracting interest from Real Madrid as he continues to showcase his defensive prowess in Lilywhite.
Pape Sarr is also attracting praise for his brilliant midfield displays, and striker Richarlison has looked transformed since Frank’s arrival at N17.
The list goes on and on. However, one player has struggled under Frank – £100,000-per-week midfielder Yves Bissouma.
Reports earlier this month suggested that Tottenham were prepared to listen to offers for the Mali international, back when the Turkish, Saudi, Greek and Portuguese transfer windows remained open after the UK deadline.
Frank omitted Bissouma from his 22-man Champions League squad and publicly criticised him for showing up late to training, but since then, the Dane has stated that there is still a place for the 29-year-old in his first team.
“That I actually don’t know,” Frank said last week, after he was asked when Bissouma would return.
“The players available now are the players I have available. Of course I know (about his recovery) but that is further down the line.
“To be fair he has just started to run outside, so he is not part of the group but everything I have seen when I’ve said hello to him and every day with the players, he seems good.
“There are no hard feelings at all. Not before, not now, not at all. Train well and everyone has an opportunity.”
He is currently on the comeback trail from injury and yet to make a single competitive appearance since Frank took charge, but the Tottenham manager has now been told to U-turn on his promise and make a bold Bissouma move.
Tottenham told to axe Yves Bissouma and drop him to Under-21s
Speaking to Tottenham News, ex-Spurs scout Bryan King tipped Frank to drop Bissouma to the club’s Under-21s, before he sells the Brighton star at the nearest opportunity.
“That’s the kind of disruptive influence that you don’t want at your football club,” King said.
“If one person is late for everything, then other people could start to fall into that trap. I think Spurs have got enough midfielders to send him to train with the U21s.
“Then, when January comes along, he’ll be a lot keener to get away. If you do that, he’d end up being happy to accept a move anywhere.
“If I was Frank, I’d make it as uncomfortable for him as he wants to make it uncomfortable for me. I think Frank will be looking to get him out of the club as quickly as possible.”
Bissouma played a key role in Tottenham’s run to the Europa League final last season, and has displayed flashes of real quality throughout his stay at the club.
However, with the midfielder’s contract expiring at the end of the season, and summer signing Joao Palhinha seriously impressing in his stead, the writing is perhaps on the wall for a player who seems destined to leave.